GREAT BRITAIN LEADS THE U.S., 2-1

Written by: Staff on 1st February 2014

GREAT BRITAIN LEADS THE U.S., 2-1 |

U.S. Davis Cup Team at Petco Park in San Diego. From left to right, Mike Bryan, Bob Bryan, Donald Young, Sam Querrey, and Jim Courier.

United States vs. Great Britain

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas

2014 World Group First Round

Petco Park

San Diego, California * January 31-February 2

The United States’ Bob and Mike Bryan gave their country a chance at an historic Davis Cup rally by beating Great Britain’s Colin Fleming and Dominic Inglot, 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, in Saturday’s doubles match on red clay at Petco Park.

After falling behind, 0-2, following Friday’s singles matches, the United States faced daunting odds at a comeback – the U.S. is 1-38 all-time in Davis Cup ties when trailing, 0-2. Those chances improved, slightly, with the Bryans’ victory. The U.S. has achieved five comebacks all-time from 1-2 down and holds a 3-20 record when facing a 1-2 deficit since 1981.

The Bryans, who uncharacteristically had lost their previous two Davis Cup doubles matches, bumped their Davis Cup record together to 21-4 with their win on Saturday. Bob and Mike are also now 6-0 when the United States trails, 0-2.

Great Britain captain Leon Smith originally nominated Fleming and Andy Murray as Great Britain’s doubles team but substituted Inglot, a doubles specialist and University of Virginia graduate, for Murray on Saturday morning.

ORDER OF PLAY

DAY/LOCAL MATCH TIME EVENT DETAILS/PAIRING

Friday, 11:00 a.m. Singles A: Andy Murray (GBR) d. Donald Young (USA), 6-1, 6-2, 6-3

Singles B: James Ward (GBR) d. Sam Querrey (USA), 1-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. Doubles: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) d.

Colin Fleming/Dominic Inglot (GBR), 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1

Sunday, 11:00 a.m. Singles C: Andy Murray (GBR) v. Sam Querrey (USA)

Singles D: Donald Young (USA) v. James Ward (GBR)

*Team captains may substitute the doubles team up to one hour before the match.

DAY 3 PREVIEW NOTES

Each country’s top singles players will meet on Sunday – Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Sam Querrey (U.S.) and James Ward (GBR) vs. Donald Young (U.S.). With Great Britain leading, 2-1, Murray could clinch the tie with a victory over Querrey in Sunday’s first singles match. In that case, if Murray wins in three sets, the dead fifth rubber between Young and Ward will be played best of three sets. Should Murray win in four or five sets, the dead fifth rubber likely will not be played.

The last time Great Britain defeated the United States was in 1935, in the World Group Challenge Round in London. The last time Great Britain beat the United States in the United States was in 1903 in the World Group Challenge Round Final at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, Mass.

Murray, ranked No. 6, holds a 5-1 record over No. 49 Querrey, with the American’s lone, three-set victory coming in the Los Angeles final in 2010. The two have never met on clay. Both are overcoming recent injuries. Murray had back surgery in September, while Querrey has battled abdominal and pectoral injuries and right elbow tendonitis in the last year.

Young and Ward’s meeting will be their second. Young won their previous match-up in 2009, at the hard-court Challenger in Charlottesville, Va., 6-4, 6-3. Young made his Davis Cup debut on Friday in place of No. 13 John Isner.

The winner of this tie will advance to play the Italy-Argentina winner in the World Group Quarterfinals April 4-6. The loser will be relegated to the World Group Playoff in September and will need to win to stay in the World Group.

WHERE TO WATCH

Tennis Channel will air Sunday’s singles matches live at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance for Saturday’s doubles match in the temporary stadium built in left field of Petco Park was 6,382.